Citing attacks on humans, a county commissioner hopes to get support Tuesday to ask the state Legislature to allow a ban here

Citing attacks on humans, a county commissioner hopes to get support Tuesday to ask the state Legislature to allow a ban here

Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel

Pit bull lovers came out in force Tuesday to oppose a county commissioner's effort to get the breed banned in Broward.

They rallied in front of the Governmental Center, holding signs saying "Don't Bully Pitbulls" and "Don't Kill My Best Friend."

They sent emails by the hundreds.

They took their message to the skies, hiring a plane to fly around Broward with a banner opposing the ban.

After hearing dozens make emotional pleas against a ban, County Commissioner Barbara Sharief agreed to withdraw her proposal and work with experts to help keep neighborhoods safe from all dangerous dogs.

Another item brought forward by Sharief — a law imposing a $500 fine for teaching a dog to fight — will come back at a later date for a vote. Commissioners also agreed to vote later on a plan to fine owners $300 for not getting their dogs vaccinated or licensed.

One woman fought tears while talking about the pit bull that "stole her heart." Another man said the breed has helped him get over the trauma of being sexually abused as a child. "You can't take that way from me," he said.

Hollywood resident Randa Kunde was one of the few to speak in favor of a ban, telling the commission her husband was bitten by a neighborhood pit bull two years ago while trying to protect the couple's terrier.

"It only takes one child to have their face bit and they're scarred for life," Kunde said.

Sharief initially said she wanted the state to allow each city and county to decide if they wanted to ban American pit bull terriers, American Staffordfshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers. Sharief said she was concerned about "unprovoked" pit bull attacks on people and other dogs, many of which go unreported.

Marni Bellavia, who works for the Humane Society of Broward testing the temperament of dogs put up for adoption, spoke against the ban.

"Any dog can bite," she said. "It doesn't matter what the breed is. We are against discriminating against any one breed. At the end of the day, it's discrimination any way you slice it."

Diane Rattner, a Fort Lauderdale resident who owns a pit bull named Yogi, warned a ban would lead to the unnecessary death of countless dogs.

"My dog can't speak, but I can," she said. "My dog's not a fighter, but I am. My dog can't vote, but I can."

Miami-Dade County banned the breed in 1989 before the state prohibited the practice of banning specific breeds.

"This is not Dade County and we don't want to become Dade County," said Don Anthony, spokesman for the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida.

"It's the owner who creates the problem and who should suffer the consequences," he said.